Venture into the shadow of Superstition Mountains, in Arizona, and uncover the enduring mystery of the Lost Dutchman’s Mine, a legend of gold, deception, and deadly obsession tied to Jacob Waltz. This episode separates fact from folklore, exploring vanished miners, questionable maps, and the harsh desert that has claimed lives in pursuit of fortune. In the end, the real story may not be the gold, but the people willing to risk everything to find it.

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REFERENCES

Arizona State Parks. (n.d.). Lost Dutchman State Park: The legend. https://azstateparks.com

Britannica. (n.d.). Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lost-Dutchmans-Gold-Mine

Britannica. (n.d.). Superstition Mountains. https://www.britannica.com/place/Superstition-Mountains

Gentry, C. L. (1968). The Lost Dutchman Mine of Jacob Waltz. University of New Mexico Press.

Reilly, J. (1978). The Lost Dutchman Mine. University of New Mexico Press.

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine. Wikipedia.

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Superstition Mountain. Wikipedia.

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Weaver’s Needle. Wikipedia.

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Peralta Stones. Wikipedia.

This episode explores the legend of La Llorona, the Weeping Woman, and her lasting influence on New Mexico’s culture. We trace her origins, cultural evolution, and why she remains a powerful symbol in the Southwest. We explore why La Llorona endures, her emotional impact, adaptability, and presence in art and daily life. More than a ghost story, she’s part of New Mexico’s identity.

Original Art by The Pixie

REFERENCE LIST

Books & Academic Sources

• Perez, D. R. (2008). There was a woman: La Llorona from folklore to popular culture. University of Texas Press.
• Radford, B. (2014). Mysterious New Mexico: Miracles, magic, and monsters in the Land of Enchantment. University of New Mexico Press.

Web & Folklore Sources

• Castro, M. (Ed.). (n.d.). La Llorona. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/La-Llorona
• La Llorona — Legends of America. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/gh-lallorona/
• La Llorona; the Wailing Woman (Fort Union National Monument, NPS). https://www.nps.gov/foun/learn/news/october-20-2016.htm
• Ramírez Plascencia, D. (2017). The role of the Internet in the endurance of “La Llorona” as a liminal archetypal monster in modern Latin American society. eTropic: Electronic Journal of Studies in the Tropics, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.25120/etropic.16.1.2017.3567

In this episode, we examine the events of the Serial Killer Robert Fry. Join The Arkins Hearth as we discuss the complexities of justice, accountability, and public reaction.

Art By the Pixie

References:

Scott, R. (2005). Monster slayer: The true story of a New Mexico serial killer. Pinnacle Books.

New Mexico Supreme Court. (2003). State v. Fry, 2003-NMSC-006. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/nm-supreme-court/1397835.html

New Mexico Supreme Court. (2005). State v. Fry, 2005-NMSC-039. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/nm-supreme-court/1362743.html

Krueger, J. (2008). Death penalty decisions in New Mexico. Albuquerque Journal.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (n.d.). Serial murder: Multi-disciplinary perspectives for investigators. https://www.fbi.gov

New Mexico Corrections Department. (n.d.). Offender information: Robert Fry. https://cd.nm.gov

Associated Press. (2001–2004). Coverage of Robert Fry trials and convictions.

The Daily Times. (1996–2004). Local coverage of the Eclectic homicides and subsequent investigations.

In the first episode of the Hero Series, we share the remarkable life of John Brenner, a man whose story spans generations and continents. From escaping the horrors of the Blitz as a child to serving in the Korean War to dedicating over fifty years to medicine, John’s life is defined by resilience and service. He brought care to those in hospice, supported communities on the reservation, and did it all with a sharp sense of humor that never left him. This episode is a tribute to a man who didn’t just live through history; he spent his life helping others survive it, too.

Art by the Pixie

References:

Michael Chandler

Shieila Brenner-Willmett

This podcast explores the haunting case of the West Mesa Murders in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the remains of eleven women and one unborn child were uncovered in 2009, revealing a long-hidden tragedy. Through sensitive storytelling, the script traces the victims' discovery, identities, and lives, the ongoing investigation, and the enduring impact on families and the community.

Art by The Pixie

Call for Information

• If you or anyone you know has information:
  • 118th Street Task Force: 1-877-765-8273 or 505-768-2450
  • Crime Stoppers: 505-843-STOP
  • Email Investigator Ida Lopez: ilopez@cabq.gov

References

• City Leaders Open the Women’s Memorial Park with Blessing and Dedication. (2019). City of Albuquerque. https://www.cabq.gov/council/find-your-councilor/district-3/news/city-leaders-open-the-women2019s-memorial-park-with-blessing-and-dedication
• Fjeld, J. (2025, February 3). Families, APD seek answers 16 years after West Mesa murders. KOB.com
• Albuquerque Police Department. West Mesa Homicide Investigation. City of Albuquerque. https://www.cabq.gov/police/contact-the-police/west-mesa-homicide-investigation
• Albuquerque Police Department. APD Honors West Mesa Victims on Anniversary of Discovery. City of Albuquerque News Releases.
• Wikipedia contributors. West Mesa Murders. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
• A&E Television Networks. The West Mesa Murders: Searching for a Killer. AETV.com
• People Magazine. 11 Victims, No Arrests: The West Mesa Murders. People.com

In this episode, we explore one of the most astonishing and little-known UFO events in American history, the 1950 Farmington UFO Armada Incident. Over the course of three days in March 1950, hundreds of residents in Farmington, New Mexico, watched the skies fill with dozens of fast-moving, metallic discs performing impossible maneuvers in broad daylight. Reported by police officers, bank employees, oil workers, and ordinary citizens, the event made front-page headlines as a mysterious “saucer armada” appeared over the town. Decades later, with no clear explanation from the government or science, the Farmington sightings remain one of the largest mass UFO encounters ever recorded in the United States.

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References: Farmington Daily Times — “Huge ‘Saucer’ Armada Jolts Farmington,” March 18, 1950. Front-page article documenting the mass UFO sighting witnessed by hundreds of residents over three days.

• The Aztec UFO Incident by Scott Ramsey & Suzanne Ramsey (2015). Investigative book examining the alleged 1948 Aztec crash and related UFO activity in the Four Corners region.
• The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects by Edward J. Ruppelt (1956). Written by the former head of the U.S. Air Force’s Project Blue Book, it includes a discussion of early UFO cases from the late 1940s and early 1950s.
• National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena — The UFO Evidence (1964). One of the earliest large compilations of documented UFO cases, including references to the Farmington sightings.
• UFOs and the National Security State by Richard Dolan (2000). Historical analysis of UFO sightings during the Cold War era, including major early cases in the American Southwest.

Primary Source

• Ramsey, Scott; Ramsey, Suzanne; Thayer, Frank. The Aztec UFO Incident: The Case, Evidence, and the Elaborate Cover-Up of One of the Most Perplexing Crashes in History. New Page Books, 2016.

Supporting Sources

• Scully, Frank. Behind the Flying Saucers. 1950.
• Cahn, J.P. San Francisco Chronicle, investigative series, 1952.
• U.S. Air Force Project Sign, Project Grudge, and early Project Blue Book public summaries (1948–1952).

San Juan County historical archives and Aztec Public Library references as cited in Ramsey’s appendices.

Episode two of The Arkins Hearth, “Roswell Baby,” delves into the legendary 1947 crash near Roswell, where a mysterious object and a swift military cover-up sparked the modern UFO phenomenon. Explore how secrecy, conflicting reports, and Cold War paranoia transformed a simple debris recovery into a global legend. Join us as we unravel the enduring mystery that forever changed how we view our government—and what might be out there.

References

• U.S. Air Force. The Roswell Report: Fact vs. Fiction in the New Mexico Desert. Washington, D.C., 1994.
• U.S. Air Force. The Roswell Report: Case Closed. Washington, D.C., 1997.
• Moore, Charles Z., and Karl Pflock. Roswell in Perspective. Roswell Daily Record Publications, 1994.
• Friedman, Stanton, and Don Berliner. Crash at Corona: The Definitive Study of the Roswell Incident. Paraview Press, 1992.
• Randle, Kevin D., and Donald R. Schmitt. UFO Crash at Roswell. Avon Books, 1991.
• Korff, Kal. The Roswell UFO Crash: What They Don’t Want You to Know. Prometheus Books, 1997.
• National Security Archive. Declassified Documents on Project Mogul. George Washington University.

Randle, Kevin D. Roswell: The 75th Anniversary. Flying Disk Press, 2022.